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How Did The Puritans Affect The Salem Witch Trials

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Puritans can be found at the beginnings of the English Reformation. In the 1500s England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and created a new church called the Church of England. In 1630 the Puritans left England in search of religious freedom. The Puritans wanted to leave the Church of England to become pure by getting rid of Catholic practices.The Puritans did not want to completely separate from the Church of England. They wanted to make reforms or changes, but King Charles 1 would threaten the Puritans with harsh punishments if they did not obey the Church of England. So they left England to find freedom in America. The Puritans established the Massachusetts Bay Colony when they arrived in America. The Puritans wanted to base the colony on the laws of God.(“Puritanism”) What Puritans believed about witchcraft, forgiveness, and sin all had an enormous impact on their culture and contributed to the Salem witch trials.

Witchcraft to the Puritan people is seen as becoming close to the devil in exchange for certain powers to do evil. ( “The Events and Causes of the Salem Witch Trials”) Puritans got their belief of witchcraft from the bible. The Leviticus 19:31 says" Do not turn to mediums or seek out spirits, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." (“Bible Verses About Witchcraft”). 2 Chronicles 33:6 says "He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practised divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and

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